Piano action



July 12, l938.' A. KLEIN 2,123,736

PIANO ACTION Filed June 29, 1937 WITNESSES INVENTOR fld z Klein ATI'ORNEYS Patented July 12, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to musical instruments, and has particular reference to actions of pianos.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved means whereby the hammer may be held in check at the desired distance or position from the string.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for holding the hammer in check together with mechanism for adjusting said means.

An additional and more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved form of abstract for connecting the wippen of the action with the key.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the action in normal idle position, part of the stationary portion of the piano being shown in connection with the key;

Fig. 2 is a side View of the abstract shown in Fig. 1 together with a sectional view of an adjustable capstan associated therewith.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, I indicates a stationary part of the piano which carries the key 2, which key and immediate associated parts are old and well known. An abstract 3 has one end operatively connected with the Wippen 4. The action includes a hammer 5 connected with the butt 6 which is pivotally mounted at l on a stationary flange 8. The Wippen 4 is pivotally mounted on the second stationary flange 9 and has a rigid extension H! on which the jack H is pivotally mounted. Jack H acts on butt 6 in the usual way for causing the hammer 5 to function. Wippen 4 is provided with an aperture l2 having a lining [3 of felt or other suitable material through which the journal section 14 of the abstract 3 extends. A turned down portion l5 extends substantially parallel With the side of the Wippen 4, while the journal section M extends directly through the Wippen and unites integrally with an offset portion l6 which is bent at ll to form the downwardly extending leg l8 which merges into the loop l9 that in turn merges into the abstract body 20. The abstract 3 may be termed a pull abstract because the body part 20 is pulled upwardly each time key 2 is caused to function.

At the upper end the body 20 merges into loop 2| that has a downwardly extending .leg 22 formed with or supplied with an enlargement 23 which may be integral or may be separate and secured to the lower end of leg 22. For instance, the rounded enlargement 23 may be wood, While the abstract 3 is preferably metal. The member 23 fits into a socket 24 in the capstan 25 and rests on a cushion 26 which may be felt or other suitable material. The lower end of the capstan 25 is provided with a threaded bore 21 into which the threaded end of pin 28 is fitted. The opposite end of the pin 28 is forced into a suitable bore in the key 2. By providing the threaded end of pin 28 the capstan 25 will be raised or lowered and consequently Wippen 4 may be adjusted upwardly and downwardly to cause a proper action of the hammer 5. Suitable tie members of metal or other material 29 and are provided adjacent the upper and lower ends of the abstract 3 to hold the respective legs l8 and 22 in proper position.

After the parts have been arranged substantially as shown in Fig. l, the capstan 25 is rotated in either direction as may be desired to cause a proper action of the hammer 5. If the hammer 5 should be spaced a short distance away from the pad 3|, capstan 25 would be rotated to lower the abstract 3 sufficiently to permit the hammer 5 to rest against the pad while the upper end of jack H was rather lightly contacting the pad 32 carried by the butt 6. After this check or adjustment has been secured the parts are in correct operative position so that when the outer end of key 2 is struck by an operator the hammer 5 and associated parts of the action will function as desired. Each time that the key is struck at the outer end the abstract 3 will give an upward pull on one end of the Wippen 4 so as to cause the jack H to properly function. As soon as the key is released the parts will quickly assume the position shown in Fig. 1 ready for a second action. By this construction and arrangement of abstract and associated parts the action may be arranged as shown in Fig. 1 or if desired could be lowered until the hammer 5 was below the key. It will therefore be seen that by this construction the action may be placed at a comparatively high point or low point in respect to the key 2 and at the same time function in the usual manner.

I claim:

1. In a piano action of the character described, an abstract having an upper end bent to present a downwardly extending leg, an egg-shaped enlargement on the lower end of said leg, a capstan having a socket in which said enlargement is loosely mounted, a cushion positioned in said socket beneath said enlargement, and a threaded member for connecting the capstan with a key of the piano, said threaded member coacting with the capstan for vertically adjusting the position of said abstract, said abstract at the lower end being bent to present a generally hook-shaped portion formed with a journal section adapted to extend through the wippen of the action.

2. In a piano action of the character described, an abstract having its upper end bent to present a downwardly extending leg, a capstan having a socket in which the lower end of said leg is loosely mounted, a cushion positioned in said socket beneath the lower end of said leg, a threaded member for connecting the capstan with a key of the piano, said threaded member coacting with said capstan for vertically adjusting the position of the abstract and means at the lower end of the abstract for pivotally connecting the abstract to the wippen of the action.

ADOLF KLEIN. 

